2023-2024 City Council
Left to Right: Adam Blau, Jeff Bezold, Eric Strange, Mayor Eric Hass, Lauren McIntosh, Ben Pendery, Andy Ellison.
Council meeting videos can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel.
To find meeting dates and times, please see the Calendar on the Home Page.
Upcoming Events (ftthomas.org)
Council Members sit on six committees (Finance-Funding and Implementation, Law Labor License – Land Use and Zoning, Public Safety – Regional Collaboration, Public Utilities and Buildings, Public Works, and Recreation). Check this sheet for who sits on which Council Committee for the 2023-2024 term.
MAYOR: Eric Haas
E-mail: ehaas@ftthomas.org
Eric Haas began serving on City Council in 1997. He is retired from his family’s business, National Band & Tag Co. He is the co-founder and co-owner of the Hofbrauhaus in Newport, Pittsburgh, and Columbus. He and his wife, Jan, have 3 children; Lan, Ryan, and Erin, and 7 grandchildren. Eric is a graduate of Highlands High School, 1974, and Hanover College, 1978. He is a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Newport.
He currently serves on the US Bank Board of Advisors Cincinnati, the River Cities Government Coalition, the Campbell Leadership Action Group, Hanover College Board of Trustees, and is a member of the Fort Thomas Lions Club. He is a former Newport City Commissioner and a former chair of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and also served on the Kentucky State Chamber Board of Directors. He also helps Jan and their daughter, Erin, with Trent Montessori.
COUNCILMEMBER: Jeff Bezold
Email: jbezold@ftthomas.org
Growing up in Fort Thomas I always knew our city was special. The people, the location, the beautiful homes, our friends and family, our neighbors, and the sense of community are just a few reasons that make Fort Thomas so special. After my time at Western Kentucky University receiving my bachelor’s degree, I was fortunate enough to find a career that brought me back to Fort Thomas. In 2007 I married my beautiful wife, Denise. We added to our family in 2010 with the birth of our first daughter Lily, followed by the birth of our twin girls Isabella and Harper in 2012. When I’m not working as a Senior Regional Sales Manager for DePuy Mitek, Johnson & Johnson, we spend a lot of time shuttling the girls to through the seemingly never-ending cycle of soccer games and practices. When life slows down enough to get some R&R we enjoy spending time with my family, socializing with friends and neighbors. We spend a lot of time outdoors, experiencing new foods, travel, and we especially like the time we get on Norris Lake boating, fishing andrelaxing.
COUNCILMEMBER: Adam Blau
Email: ablau@ftthomas.org
Several years ago, I volunteered to help with our city’s Sesquicentennial celebration, from there I was asked to be on the Renaissance Board. While on the board, I spearheaded a couple of our city’s events, the Veteran’s Day celebration and the Cake Town Poker Run. During this time, I was helping with my brothers’ campaign. I started to meet a lot of our local and state politicians and started to get a real feel for their sense of pride in our community. My wife Hilary and I, have worked hard to ensure our two small businesses are a strong community partner in Independence and I quickly realized that taking the next step and running for council was truly a way for me to give back to the place that’s been my life-long home. I truly believe if everyone just gives back a little, in whatever way that they are able, we will leave this world in a better place. I could not be happier with my decision, and I look forward to continuing to be your voice for this amazing city we get to call “home.”
COUNCILMEMBER: Ben Pendery
Email: bpendery@ftthomas.org
After college in 2009, I worked for about 5 years as an advocate for healthy business environment and state park preservation and stewardship in the State of Ohio. From there, I entered the private sector working in sales and business development for a couple of small businesses before landing as a commercial insurance advisor in my family’s Pendery Insurance & Risk Management. My business has always been built on trust through relationship building, and I bring that approach to City Council. Whether it’s my work as Chair of Finance or my interest in the green areas in town, I approach all city issues with a level head and try to lead by example. I view my job as a collaboration between our wonderful city staff, our citizens and our elected officials. Fort Thomas isn’t so special by accident, and I enjoy the opportunity to be a part of the future of our city. Personally, my wife Devin and I welcomed our son, Beau, in September and are loving the adventure of parenthood. In our spare time we love to spend time with friends on the golf course and in the outdoors. We also cherish travels with family to Northern Michigan and Southwest Florida.
COUNCILMEMBER: Lauren McIntosh
Email: lmcintosh@ftthomas.org
Lauren McIntosh was born and raised in Northern Kentucky. She graduated from Newport Central Catholic in 2007 before attending the University of Louisville for a Political Science degree. During college, she became active in state politics, culminating with an internship with State Senator John Schickel. After graduating, she worked as a paralegal in a large plaintiff’s law firm in Louisville. Lauren moved back to NKY in 2012 and worked at Aerotek as an Account Manager until 2019. She met her husband, Josh McIntosh, during this time, and eventually left the corporate world to partner with her in-laws to run Professional Pool and Spa, their family business located in Fort Thomas. Lauren purchased the company in August 2022 and is now the sole owner. Lauren and Josh were married in 2018 and moved to Fort Thomas that same year. They welcomed their first child, Rhett David, in July 2022. In addition to being a small business owner, Lauren enjoys cooking, trying local restaurants, hiking, traveling with her family, and long walks around town with her standard Poodle, Riff.
COUNCILMEMBER: Eric Strange
Email: estrange@ftthomas.org
Eric is a husband of 25 years and father of three school-aged children. As a life-long resident of Fort Thomas, he is continually seeking ways in which he can utilize his background and experience to positively impact this community and its schools. Most recently he’s served on Highlands High School’s Decision-Making Council and on the board of the Ft. Thomas Junior Football League. He’s also involved in community impact initiatives through various organizations including First Church, Hosea House, Johnson Elementary’ s Watch D.O.G.S. Program, and “Connetic Ventures”, which supports early-stage companies and fosters broader economic development. Professionally Eric is a principal and senior wealth advisor at Bahl & Gaynor Investment Council working with high-net-worth individuals and families. Over the past 25 years he’s served in various portfolio management and investment-related research roles for Fifth Third’s Private Bank and Renaissance Investment Management in Covington. He holds degrees in accounting and communications from Georgetown College. Additionally, he’s a CFA Charter holder as well as a Certified Public Accountant.
COUNCILMEMBER: Andy Ellison
Email: aellison@ftthomas.org
As a fourth generation and life-long Fort Thomas resident, I am honored to have been elected to the Fort Thomas City Council. I ran for City Council to preserve what gives Fort Thomas its unique sense of neighborhood and great schools. I graduated from Highlands in 1991 and after my first year of college I joined my father sailing around the world. Spending time with so many different people and cultures allows you to know and appreciate the similarities, differences, and struggles of individuals and communities. I have a Bachelor of Finance from Northern Kentucky University and have been a small business owner for the past 30 years. My wife Molly and I have been married for 19 years and have three children: Annie, Eli, and Drew. They all attended St. Catherine of Siena School and are currently attending Highlands. We have been blessed to have raised our children in a town that cares and supports their schools and youth as much as Fort Thomas does.